砥石(といし)

TYPES (by grit):

• 荒砥(あらと) (coarse whetstone) - for initial sharpening, fixing chips
• 中砥(なかと) (medium whetstone) - general sharpening
• 仕上(しあ)げ砥(と) (finishing stone) - for final polish

TYPES (natural and synthetic):

• 天然(てんねん)砥石(といし) (natural whetstone)
• 京都(きょうと)の天然(てんねん)砥石(といし) (Kyoto natural stones) - highly valued
• 人造(じんぞう)砥石(といし) (synthetic whetstone)

Usage

• 水(みず)砥石(といし) (water stone) - most common type in Japan
• 油砥石(あぶらといし) (oil stone) - uses oil instead of water

Related words

• 包丁(ほうちょう) (kitchen knife)
• 研(と)ぎ器(き) (knife sharpener - simpler alternative)
• 革砥(かわと) (leather strop) - for final polishing

Cultural note

• Japanese blade sharpening (研(と)ぎ) is considered a skill
• Professional sharpeners (研(と)ぎ師(し)) still exist
• Proper angle and pressure are crucial

Common collocations

• 砥石(といし)で研(と)ぐ (to sharpen with a whetstone)
• 砥石(といし)を水(みず)に浸(ひた)す (to soak the whetstone)